Closure for bottles, jars, and other receptacles.



G. E. STAHL.

CLOSURE FOR BOTTLES, JARS, AND OTHER RECEPTACLES. APPucATloN FILED MAY 1o. 1915.

1,215,737. Patented Feb.13,1917.

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- WITNESSES:

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TTRNEY UNITED sTATEs -rATENToEEIoE GEORGE EMIL STAHL, E JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

'CLOSURE FOR BOTTLES, JARS, .AND OTHER RECEPTAGLES.

To alli/whom z't may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE EMIL STAHL,-

f' a vcitizen of the United lSta-tes,and a resi- Closures for Bottles, 'J ars, and other Receptacles, of which the following is a specication.

The invention pertains more particularly-` to bottle closures of the crown cap type, and A resldes in a novel lining or interior structure to be applied within the dome of the cap for engagement l'with the upper edge of the bottle or receptacle to be sealed.

tinand contain a rubber ring or a disk of cork or other substance to seal the bottle mouth. vThese caps have proven ineiicient in many instances in vrespect of their sealing' action, particularly in 'their use on bottles containing beer, due tothe necessity of subjecting beer to La high temperature while in the bottles. ,The pasteurizing of the beer results in an expansion of the gas within the bottles, and considerable diiliculty has heretofore been encountered in so sealing the bottles as to prevent the escape of the eX- panded gas. In' accordance with my invention I provide means for efectually resisting the escape of the expanded gas and maintaining.

the bottle in a properly sealed condition.

The invention will be fully, understood from the detailed description hereinafter `'presented,'reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an enlarged central vertical section through a bottle cap having an interior sealing4 structure embodying my invention; p

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on a still larger scale of a portion of the same;

' Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are central vertical sections, on an-enlarged scale, of the several layers of material employed by me in the formation of the interior `structure of the cap, and 1 Fig. 6 is a--bottom view, partly broken away, of the lower laminated disk forming a part of the interior structure of the cap.

'In the drawings 10 designates a sheet metal cap of the crown type containing" the sealing structure of my invention, this structure comprising, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, a lower laminated A Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Feb, 13, 1917, Application led May 10, 1915. Serial No. 26,978. l

sealing disk 11, an upper crown 'disk 12 and an intermediate ring 13 within which is created within the outline of its inner annular edge and the facing surfaces of the disks 11, 12, a substantial air chamber 14, which it is one of my purposes to create and which is utilized, in accordance with my invention, in effecting and maintaining the proper sealing of the bottle to which the cap may be applied.

The cap 1() is stamped in the usual manner from sheet/metal and is commonly 'designated as a crown cap, said cap comprising an upper or dome portion 15 and a depending edge flange 16. Bottle caps are ordinarily made of sheet The cap 10 may be of any of the usual modified forms of crown caps and isl not novel with the exception of its use in connection with the interior or lining struc- 'ture I provide therein to secure the eectual against the lower surface ofthe dome of the cap 10. The ring or washer 13 Awill be formed from jute paper stock or other suit- Aable material and will be considerable thicker than the disk 12 so that a commodious air chamber 14 may be created within the outlines of said disk or washer 13 'and interiorly of the sealin `structure of the cap. The disk l1 may e of any suitable material but l1in the preferred construction is of laminated character and composed of a disk or layer 17 of jute paper stock,a layer. of gutta percha, or equivalent substance, 18, adherin to the lower surface of the disk or layer 1 and a very thin layer of paper tissue 19 adhering to the lower surface ofthe layer of gutta percha 18. The

disk 12 and ring vor washer 13 are flat and closely engage, at their edges, the inner upper edges of the cap 10.- The disk 11 is initially punched flat from a laminated sheet (Fig. 5) and then forced into the inverted cup-shape shown in Fig., 2 whereby the edges of the disk become downwardly flanged, as at 20, and a lower feather edge 21 is formed closely engaging the inner surfaces of the sides of the cap. The disk 11 presents a more extended surface to the cap than would be the case if the flange 20 were omitted and the plain edge of the disk merely extended out to the side wall of the cap, as will be obvious from an inspection of Fig. 2, and in addition the presence of the flange 20 affords extended surfaces to engage the upper edge or lip of a bottle neck 'and adds to the effectiveness ofthe seal.l

The layer of gutta percha 18 is impervious to moisture and protects the layers between it and the top of the tin cap from contact with the beer orother liquid, said layer of gutta percha keeping the layer 17, ring or washer 13 and disk 12 dry. The layer vof gutta percha 18 also preserves the cushioning character of the sealing structure and in itself contributes to the efficiency of the sealing structure. I also call attention to the fact `that in the downward Hanging of the edges of the sealing structure the edges of the gutta percha disk 18 become placed in direct contact with the vertical sides of the flange of the cap and create therewith, when.

the cap is subjected to pressure and the heat of the pasteurizing process, a hermetic seal trapping within the crown of the cap above said disk whatever air there may be therein, so that said air may, in. accordance with my invention, act by expansion for elfectually maintaining the sealing of the bottle or other receptacle. The downward flanging, as at 20, of the sealing structure arches the lower portion of such structure and when the structure is placed within the cap preparatory to the cap being applied to the bottle, it will maintain its position therein. The thin layer of tissue paper 19 need not cover the whole lower surface of the layer of gutta percha 18 but for convenience of manufacture does do so, and said layer of'thin tissue paper 19 is utilized mainly to prevent the heat during the pasteurizing of the beer from so softening the gutta percha 18 as to i cause it to unduly adhere to the edges around the mouth of the bottle to which the cap may be applied. The presence of the tissue paper 19 is sufficient to render it certain that the gutta percha will not become unduly aliixed to the edges of the mouth of the bottle during the pasteurizing process, and when employed eliminates all danger of the laminated disk 11 adhering to the bottle and leaving the cap l() when the cap is removed by the usual cap-lifter from the bottle. The disk 11 is punched from a laminated sheet such as I show in Fig. 5 composed of the three layers all closely pressed together and adhering to one another, the paper tissue being about '.008.thick and becoming substantially impregnated with the gutta percha and firmly and closely allixed thereto. In Fig. 6 I illustrate the tissue paper layer 19 as having been partly tornaway to disclose the gutta percha layer.

The interior or lining structure of the cap is novel and important regardless of the air chamber 14, but the presence of said air chamber adds very greatly to the eliiciency of the cap and lining structure and is a characteristic feature of my invention. The presence of the air chamber 14 inclosed within the lining structure and so located as to be concealed, thereby confining the air therein, is of particular importance especially during the pasteurizing process or processes of any nature when the temperature should change the contents of the receptacle, at which time the air within said chamber expands and acts to bind those portions of the disk 11 adjacent to the inner edges of the mouth of the bottle against sai'd edges, while at the same time the air is prevented from escaping from said chamber. All the layers of the lining vstructuie are of yielding material, and hence may closely hug the walls of the cap and the surfaces around the mouth of the bottle, whereby the interior chamber 14 becomes hermetically sealed and the body of air therein is adapted to act by expansion for effectually maintaining the sealing of the bottle to which the cap may be applied.

It is well known that very great diculty is experienced in preventing the escape of gas from a beer or other bottle under varying degrees of temperature and especially during the pasteurization of the liquid or beer in the bottle, and this is in large part due to the different ratios of expansion of the glass and tin, the tin expanding more rapidly than the glass, andthe result of these natural conditions is that when the bottle is subjected to heat the tin cap will first expand and tend to loosen from the bottle mouth and permit leakage of gas, and to meet this condition is one of the main purposes of my inclosed air chamber 14. The expansion of the air in the sealed air chamber 14 opposes the pressure of the expanded gas in the bottle neck and augments and maintains the constant pressure of the disk 11 against the lip of the bottle and especially against the inner edges thereof, the expanded air in the lining structure -of the cap compensating for the different ratios of expansion between the tin and glass. A further characteristic feature of my invention is the provision on the disk 1l of lthe annular depending flange 20 to afford a sealing and cushioning medium extending outwardly over the upper1 edges of the bottle mouth. It is highly advantageous also that the disk 11 be covered on its lower face with gutta percha or some equivalent impervious substance whose edges are closely bound against the inner sides of the bottle cap 10. The gutta. percha layer 18 being adhesive becomes closely incorporated with the paper layer 17 and impregnates the tissue layer 19, and hence the disk 11, while laminated, is substantially in one integral piece. The presence of the gutta percha nature of the gutta percha itself, being sullicient in thickness to yield to the irregularities in the to the inner sur aces of the tin cap and being and the gases in the bottle properly confined of the bottle mouth and to of a clinging nature and of a character not at all prejudicial to' the contents of the bottle. n

I have hereinbefore described `the preferred embodiment of my invention, but I do not wish to be limited toall of the details further than the scope of the appended claims may require. I desire the privilege of the doctrine of equivalency in respect of the materials of which the several parts of the lining structure "are made. I therefore do not desire to be confined to the use of jute paper in lieu of paper of some other name, nor do I desire to be limited to the use of gutta percha as distinguished from gum or some equivalent substance or substances which might not be of the nature of gutta percha or gum but equivalent thereto in eli'ecting the sealing of a bottle, protecting the inner layers of the lining structure from the effects of moisture, and coperating with the expansion of the air in the air chamber 14 in maintaining the bottle sealed during the pasteurizing or bottling process to which beer or other liquids may be subjected. i A

In the drawings I illustrate a single air chamber 14, but if this air chamber were subdivided by partitions into a plurality of air chambers I would regard the then plural number of'air chambers as the air chamber of'my invention. w

What I claimas my invention and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is:

1. A closure for bottles vand the like, comprising a sheet metal cap of the crown type having a dome and la depending edge flange, and a sealing structure within said cap com# prising a yielding body to engage at its 'outer edges the side walls of the cap, and the edge of thebottle mouth and confining air to act by expansion for efectually maintaining the sealing of the bottle, said sealing structure in its lower peripheral part being y initially Iianged downwardly and closely Y engaging the flange of the cap and also being imperviousAb to moisture and of a characterto adhere at its edges to the said ange 'so as to make a hermetic seal trapping-said air.

2. A closure for bottles and the like, com.-

' prising a sheet metal cap of the crown type having a dome and a depending edge flange,

and a sealing structure within said cap comprising a yielding body to engage` at its outer edges the side walls of the cap and the edge of the bottle mouth, said sealing structure having an upper cushioning portionand a lower portion initially ianged downwardly along its peripheral edges and closely engaging the flange of the cap and having A closure for bottles and the like, comprlsmg asheet metal cap of the crown type having a dome and a dependingedge flange, andv a sealing structure within said cap comprising a yielding body to engage vat its outer edges the side walls of the cap and the edge of the bottle mouth, said sealing structure havingan upper cushioning portion and a lower portion initially flanged downwardly along its peripheral .edges and closely engaging the iange of the cap and having a lower coating of gutta percha rendering the sea-ling structure impervious to moisture and of a character to adhere at its edges to the said ange, so as to form a circumferential hermetic seal.

4. A closure for bottles and the like, comprising a sheet metal cap of the crown type having a vdome and a depending edge flange,

and a sealing structure within said cap comprising a yielding body to engage at its outer edges the side walls of tlfe cap and the edge of the bottle mouth, said sealing structure having an upper cushioning perl)tion and a lower portion initially ianged downwardly along its peripheral edges and closely engaging the flange of the cap and having a lower coatingof gutta percha rendering the sealing structure impervious to moisture and of a character to adhere at its 'having a dome and a depending edge flange,

and a sealing structure within said cap comprising a yielding body to engage at its outer edges the side walls of the cap and the edge of the bottle mouth and containing a definite air chamber in which a body of air is electually sealed to'act by expansion for maintaining the sealing of the bottle, said sealing structure` having at its lower part a layer of gutta percha closely bound thereto and thereby rendering the structure impervious to moisture and to the entrance of gas from the bottle, and said layer of gutta percha being in engagement with the flange onthe cap so as to effect a circumferential seal therewith and. also adapt- Ied to seal along the bottle mouthwhereby the bottle becomes` sealed and the air in said chamberfbecomes eifectually confined.

6. A closure for bottles and the like, com prising a. metal cap of the crown type having a dome and a depending edge flange, and a sealing structure therein comprising a lower cushioning disk of paper having on its lower side a substance rendering it non-ab sorbent and non-porous and above said disk a ring of paper within whose interior outline is formed an air chamber, said sealing structure being adapted to engage at its outer edges the side walls of the cap and the edge of the bottle mouth, and said disk initially having a depending edge flange to engage the inner side walls of the cap and the outer edges of the bottle mouth and said air chamber being hermetically sealed to eonne therein a body oi air to act by eX- pansion for efectually maintaining the sealing of the bottle.

7. A closure for bottles and the like, comprising a sheet metal cap of the crown type having a dome and an edge flange to be crimped on the bottle, and a sealing structure within said cap comprising a yielding body to engage at its outer edge the side walls of the cap and the edge of the bottle mouth and consisting of a lower layer, an intermediate ring layer and a disk top layer, said intermediate layer being open interiorly to form an airl chamber between its inner edges and the said lower and upper layers and said layers being closely bound together and protected against the eects of moisture, whereby said air chamber becomes permanently maintained and contines a body of air to act by expansion against said yielding body for etfectually maintaining the sealing of the bottle, and said sealing structure being formed along its outer edges with a depending flange closely engaging the inner sides of the cap and adapted to engage the outer side edges of the mouth of the bottle.

8. A closure for bottles and the like, oomprising a sheet metal cap of the crown type having a dome and an edge flange to be crimped on the bottle, and a sealing strueture within said cap comprising a yielding body to engage at its outer edge the side walls of the cap and the edge of the bottle mouth and consisting of a lower paper layer having bound on its lower surface a covering of gutta percha, an intermediate ring layer and a disk top layer, said intermediate layer being open interiorly to form an air chamber between its inner edges and the said lower and upper layers and said layers being closely bound together, whereby said air chamber becomes permanently maintained and confines a body of air to act by expansion against said yielding body for efl'ectually maintaining the sealing of the bottle, said lower layer at its outer edges being formed with a depending flange closely engaging the inner sides of the cap and adapted to engage the outer of the mouth of the bottle.

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 7th day of May, A. D. 1915.

GEORGE EMIL STAHL.

side edges Witnesses:

ARTHUR MARION, CHAS. C. GlLL. 

